Antimicrobial use and microbiological testing in district general hospital ICUs of the Veneto region of north-east Italy

Benedetti, P., Sefton, A. M., Menegozzo, M., Guerriero, C., Bordignon, G., Da Rin, G., Romualdi, C., Pellizzer, G. and Livermore, D. M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9856-3703 (2016) Antimicrobial use and microbiological testing in district general hospital ICUs of the Veneto region of north-east Italy. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, 35 (10). 1627–1638. ISSN 0934-9723

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Abstract

International - predominantly American - studies undertaken in the ICUs of teaching centres show that inadequate antibiotic therapy increases mortality and length of stay. We sought to ascertain whether this also pertains to smaller ICUs in the Veneto region of north-east Italy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such survey in the Veneto area or in Italy as a whole. A retrospective, observational study was performed across five general-hospital ICUs to examine appropriateness of microbiological sampling, empirical antibiotic adequacy, and outcomes. Among 911 patients (mean age, 65.8 years ± 16.2 SD; median ICU stay, 17.0 days [IQR, 8.0–29.0]), 757 (83.1 %) were given empirical antibiotics. Treatment adequacy could be fully assessed in only 212 patients (28.0 %), who received empirical treatment and who had a relevant clinical sample collected at the initiation of this antibiotic (T0). Many other patients only had delayed microbiological investigation of their infections between day 1 and day 10 of therapy. Mortality was significantly higher among the 34.9 % of patients receiving inadequate treatment (48.6 % vs 18.80 %; p < 0.001). Only 32.5 % of combination regimens comprised a broad-spectrum Gram-negative β-lactam plus an anti-MRSA agent, and many combinations were irrational. Inadequate treatment was frequent and was strongly associated with mortality; moreover, there was delayed microbiological investigation of many infections, precluding appropriate treatment modification and de-escalation. Improvements in these aspects and in antibiotic stewardship are being sought.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	intensive care unit,acute renal failure,adequate antimicrobial therapy,septic shock,linezolid,antibiotic stewardship,inadequate antimicrobial treatment,glycopeptide,initial antibiotic therapy,trauma patient,hospital mortality
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Epidemiology and Public Health Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Public Health and Health Services Research (former - to 2023)
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	14 Jun 2016 12:00
Last Modified:	22 Oct 2022 01:15
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/59321
DOI:	10.1007/s10096-016-2701-1

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